Biography

Further Personal Information

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began playing competitive water polo in 1987 with Futura 2000.

Why this sport?

On a routine visit to the doctor when he was a child, his parents were advised he should take up swimming to improve his posture. He then got the chance to try out for a water polo team and due to his height he was made goalkeeper.

Club / Team

Pro Recco: Italy

Name of coach

Vladimir Vujasinovic [club], SRB; Alessandro Campagna [national]

Preferred position / style / stance / technique

Goalkeeper

Handedness

Right

International Debut

Year

1997

Competing for

Italy

Opponent

Greece

Location

Bari, ITA

General Interest

Nicknames

The Albatross of Prato (waterpolista.com, 05 Nov 2015)

Memorable sporting achievement

Winning the silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and the gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. (federnuoto.it, 10 Jan 2016)

In March 2017 he had surgery on a fractured thumb. (genova24.it, 08 Mar 2017)

He underwent eye surgery in June 2016 due to a partial detachment of the retina. He recovered in time to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (oasport.it, 01 Jun 2016)

Sporting philosophy / motto

"Water polo is a perfect discipline for young people. It helps to live in a group and take responsibility." (nannimagazine.it, 01 Feb 2013)

Awards and honours

He was presented the Sports' Oscar from the Liguria region in 2016. (stellenellosport.com, 29 Feb 2016)

He received the 2014 Golden Caravel for International Sport from the mayor of Genoa, Italy. (prorecco.it, 13 Oct 2015)

In 2012 he received the Gold Collar of Sporting Merit from the Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI]. (sicilia.coni.it, 17 Apr 2012)

He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China. (FINA Aquatics World Magazine, 14 Aug 2011)

Other information

NATIONAL TEAM RETIREMENTHe announced his retirement from the Italian national team after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However he was recalled to the team for the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, as a late replacement, following a measles outbreak in the Italian squad. (fina-budapest2017.com, 23 Jan 2017; gazzetta.it, 15 Jul 2017)

OLYMPIC FIRSTHe became the first water polo goalkeeper to play in five Olympic Games when he competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (corrierefiorentino.corriere.it, 11 Apr 2016)